“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25, nirv
Well, we’re a little more than a week into the new year! How are those goals holding up? I know for me, goals are often just set during this time in order to center myself on what needs to be changed for the better, but for many people, this is the moment where they start anew. I don’t want to diminish this, because it is important to work on oneself, but one thing that I need to remind myself during this time of introspection, is setting a firm foundation.
One of my favorite moments during the ministry of Jesus, is when He shares that when one follows the words He speaks, it is as if our life is a house built on a firm foundation. The word of God is a powerful tool, but one that is not often factored into our pursuits in a new year. You may be setting goals and trying to lean into a word that will be your focus, but don’t lose sight of what will last. Our foundations need to be built upon the Word of God, a Word that is alive and active in our lives.
Scripture becomes the unseen building blocks of the life we live out.
I love building with Lego. As a kid it was all I wanted as a gift for my birthday and Christmas gifts. I loved it all, but one of the vital aspects of building with Lego, is following the instructions and building a solid foundation. Every set will have pieces that are never even noticed in the final product, but without these foundational pieces, the creation falls apart.
When we choose to listen and follow the words and teachings of Jesus in Scripture, we build that solid foundation.
It’s not a visible foundation, it is one that is a personal pursuit that is an active choice we must make.
People will see the life you live, and without Scripture, the truth is that we won’t last very long. Sure you can survive, but simply surviving is not what you have been called and created to do.
Piece by piece, begin building the foundation.
You don’t have to become a master scholar or have gone to school in order to understand Scripture, you just simply need to read it a piece at a time. It’s small steps, choosing to read Scripture may mean you read a verse for the day and begin working into reading more and finding studies that can help you dive deeper. Don’t get discouraged by starting small, just like with Lego, the end result doesn’t show the work put in at the beginning.
Take a step, begin laying the foundation that will give you a firm footing to stand on.
One of the biggest components for the month of January for me, is understanding who God wants me to become. Not what I want to have or who I want to look like, but who God is calling me to be. The only way I can get that picture is by reading Scripture and spending time in prayer with my creator. I shared last week that my word for the new year is confident; choosing to see myself the way God sees me. The only way that I can grow in my confidence of who God has made me to be, is by having a firm foundation that is built on Scripture. This is not a crazy new revelation, I know, but it is one that is so important.
Jesus said that when we build our life upon His words, we would have a firm foundation that would not be easily broken down or destroyed. This is the beauty of Scripture, it is simple steps, but you just have to make the choice to begin laying the foundation.
As you continue to look at the blank page that is this new year, don’t forget to build a firm foundation of Scripture in your life.
-Joshua Thomas
About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a writer by day and superhero by night. When he’s not writing and crimefighting, you can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. The young writer doesn’t fully know what he’s doing, but is enjoying the journey of it all. You can follow his hipster photos and Jack Kerouac musings on Instagram @joshua_thomas__
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